DT770/880/990 are more than just different cups.. some even has a significantly different sound sig. e.g. DT770/80ohm is the bassiest of all and even a lot bassier than the DT770/600 and they are in the same 770 closed back line up.

Definitely the HD600. Whenever I listen to the K702 or the DT880, they just sound "fake" to me, particularly the mids on the K702 and the upper mids on the DT880. I like the clean sound, but I wish they were both technically further along. Personally, to me, the HD600 is across the frequency range masterful. There are headphones out there w/ more clarity and a darker background, but for detail, balance and realistic timber, I go for the HD600. It's bass is realistic (imo) and manages not to obscure the lush mids.

Quote:

Originally Posted by plusSound

^ Second that. Sennheiser HD600 would be a good choice for what you are looking for.

Well yes, I've already noticed many many possitive reports on the internet for these too.

Actually, to be honest, for me, it was DT880 vs SHR940 vs HD600. DT880 are semi-open, while SHR940 are closed and HD600 are open. I like semi-open version most, I don't need closed, but it's nice to have same isolation to reduce some ambient sounds at home. By look, I like DT880 most, they are just nice estheticaly. And heard about them, they are good for classical. That's why I was more towards DT880, but then, one of my friend started to convince me, SHR940 are better for my setup, and then, so many possitive reporst on HD600 over internet, that I could not simple decide, and also was curious, wheather some 4th or 5th option is existing.

Well, I trust you, HD600 are good, but will it play good on NFB12.1, better than 250 ohm DT880? That's important question too.

Btw, I've already eliminate K701 or K702 as option, I don't like them, and heard, there is a risk nowaday to buy them, as there were some quality issues.

Well, I am still considering one option, one of our shop can borrow more HPs at once, you have 7 days to choose one, and rest you can send back, and you will get money back. Hmm, maybe order DT880, with SHR940 and HD600, and then return two of them?

Ok, now I've found out, that there are 32 and 250 ohm version of DT880

AND

DT880 consumer edition and DT880 pro. After reading a little sources on internet, most of ppl recomend pro anyways, even they are for proffesional using. Also mention, that '05 version of edition is slightly worse, that '03 version.

One of our shops with headphones have option to borrow headphones for home for few days, so I've decided I will borrow these models:

DT 880 edition 250 ohm

DT 990 edition 250 ohm

Shure SHR-840

Shure SHR-940

Sennheiser HD600

Sennheiser HD650

(maybe even K701)

It will costs me about 15 euro (about $20), well but I think it is worth of it, as I will choose best ones. Also I will hear differences in quality, in comfort, and can compare open , semi-open and closed, as I've never had any better HP than SR850.

Unfortunately, they don't have them, but even if they do, I'm not sure, if they would borrow these, as they are quite expensive. Anyway, they are far above me price point, so I would not buy them anyways.

The SRH-1440 retailed for $399 which should be less than several of the headphones on your list. Personally I takes the 940 up one notch as it has a bit better bass and is more open sounding. I own both both and use the 940 for isolation. But the 1440 is just a notch above it for overall listening pleasure. anyway your list is pretty darn sweet, so you should find something to meet your requirements.

Put it this way. If you listen to the SRH-940 and LOVE it's sound except you find yourself wishing it had a bit more bass and open sound then consider getting the SRH-1440 :-)

I have already borrowed SHR940 at home. I am listening to them about hour, but honestly can say some findings.

Firstly, I wanted to compare them, to make mini-review in my head, but... even after hour of listening I can say one thing, which I've read several times, but didn't pay attention to it.

And thats it: Closed and Open (or semi-open) headphones, cannot be compared.

For me, SHR940 are out, and same for any closed headphones. It simply smothers any space in recording. Over SR850, I hear better quality and better defined sounds in SHR940, but (and big but), but final experience and image of music, how I am influenced by it, is definetly better in SR850. If both headphones would cost the same, SR850 and SHR940, and someone would ask me, which one I would take, I would decide go for SR850. Yes, but SR850 have costed me 25 euros, while SHR940 would costs 220 euro. 10 times more.

I am so happy, I've decided to borrow them first.

Now all closed headphones are out of the game for me, so it's more like HD600 vs DT880/DT990, AKG701

Quote:

Originally Posted by dweaver

Put it this way. If you listen to the SRH-940 and LOVE it's sound except you find yourself wishing it had a bit more bass and open sound then consider getting the SRH-1440 :-)

If I would only have option to borrow SHR-1440... I would be really curious how they sound, really. But after above experience, I will not buy headphones without listening them first.

Now I have borrowed DT990 edition, they've agreed to change it, when I told them, I don't like sound of closed headphones.

Oh my... I have to say, this is honestly significant improvement of quality. The sound is quite clinical, much more detailed, and the final soundstage is far better than SHR940... probably simply because it is open. For sure huge improvement over SR850.

Now I am little disapointed, I didn't take Audio GD c2c instead NFB12.1 as amp, it costed only 100$ more, because if I imagine even improvement over this, that would be amazing. To be honest, I was expecting about 20% more, but it's my fault. Expectation are often unfilled.

The another headphones are already on the path to me, but they will probably arive in monday.

I am looking forward for DT880, as I cannot identify it, but something is anyway a little disturbing in DT990.. I cannot find what exactly. I hope it is unnatural balance, added bass and some tremble. Well, I'm really not sure, so maybe DT880 will be even worse sounding to me, and will be dissapointment. Let myself to suprise.

Another headphones, that are on the path to me are:

HD600

AKG K702

ATH AD700

DT 880 250 ohm edition

(they didn't want to borrow me SHR1440 lol, I really asked)

Now, to the more important thing.

I have called to the headphones shop, asking, which version should I get for DT880. 600 ohm, or 250 ohm. He asked me, what amp I have. I told audiogd NFB12.1. Then he told me, that 600 ohm version is for more proffesional a powerful amp, that are set to high impedancy... which is not my case. He told, that NFB12.1 will amp it, but it's power for 600 ohm headphones is something like "under average", it will lost some quality due to this. Well... he told me, that I should take 250 ohm version for the amp, it will get from it much more.

Can someone more experiened put comment to this, as I was about to go for 600 ohm version before, but now I am little confused. Now I'm really sad, I didn't take c2c, which would amp it far better.

Update:

OK, DT990 are out of the round. Yes, highs are too bright. Better said for me - it's unlistenable, and really fatiquing. I now found out this review on amazon

and cannot agree more, about sound part. Yes DT990 have too much trembles, and also, too much bass, which seems unnatural for me. They sound simply unnatural, and it's like "something is still missing in the recording" syndrom. Yes, exactly what I hear.

Well, according to that review, DT880 should be much better in this aspect. I'm looking forward to them.

I really cannot stand those highs in some songs... for example symphony metallica... it's unlistenable IMO.

Now I have borrowed DT990 edition, they've agreed to change it, when I told them, I don't like sound of closed headphones.

Oh my... I have to say, this is honestly significant improvement of quality. The sound is quite clinical, much more detailed, and the final soundstage is far better than SHR940... probably simply because it is open. For sure huge improvement over SR850.

Now I am little disapointed, I didn't take Audio GD c2c instead NFB12.1 as amp, it costed only 100$ more, because if I imagine even improvement over this, that would be amazing. To be honest, I was expecting about 20% more, but it's my fault. Expectation are often unfilled.

The another headphones are already on the path to me, but they will probably arive in monday.

I am looking forward for DT880, as I cannot identify it, but something is anyway a little disturbing in DT990.. I cannot find what exactly. I hope it is unnatural balance, added bass and some tremble. Well, I'm really not sure, so maybe DT880 will be even worse sounding to me, and will be dissapointment. Let myself to suprise.

Another headphones, that are on the path to me are:

HD600

AKG K702

ATH AD700

DT 880 250 ohm edition

(they didn't want to borrow me SHR1440 lol, I really asked)

Now, to the more important thing.

I have called to the headphones shop, asking, which version should I get for DT880. 600 ohm, or 250 ohm. He asked me, what amp I have. I told audiogd NFB12.1. Then he told me, that 600 ohm version is for more proffesional a powerful amp, that are set to high impedancy... which is not my case. He told, that NFB12.1 will amp it, but it's power for 600 ohm headphones is something like "under average", it will lost some quality due to this. Well... he told me, that I should take 250 ohm version for the amp, it will get from it much more.

Can someone more experiened put comment to this, as I was about to go for 600 ohm version before, but now I am little confused. Now I'm really sad, I didn't take c2c, which would amp it far better.

Update:

OK, DT990 are out of the round. Yes, highs are too bright. Better said for me - it's unlistenable, and really fatiquing. I now found out this review on amazon

and cannot agree more, about sound part. Yes DT990 have too much trembles, and also, too much bass, which seems unnatural for me. They sound simply unnatural, and it's like "something is still missing in the recording" syndrom. Yes, exactly what I hear.

Well, according to that review, DT880 should be much better in this aspect. I'm looking forward to them.

I really cannot stand those highs in some songs... for example symphony metallica... it's unlistenable IMO.

Completely agree that DT990 are very bright sometimes harsh that's why I sold them. I also heard DT880 at that time and while that terrible brightness gone but unfortunately clarity and details were not as good as DT990 and the difference was very noticeable. Hopefully with your amp your experience will be much better than mine but you still should try HD600/650 before making final decision but be aware that HD650, never heard HD600 so don't know, are very picky with the gear pairing. I heard my currently for sale pair of HD650 with 5 different setups only one was the perfect one while others were wrong ones

Firstly, I will focus on DT990 vs DT880, as I need to return DT990 today. I have not whole 2 hours of time, to compare them.

Rest of headphones can I have borrowed for 2 weeks. Maybe, I'll manage to get even Q701, ATH-AD900 or HD650 in upcoming days. That would be really nice collection. (and if I would get SHR-1440, that would be close to perfect :-) (100% perfect would be also SHR-1840 and HD700 ;-)))

After about 20 minutes of listening and switching between DT990 and DT880, I can honestly say, I like DT880 more, and they are just unboxed out of the box, so without any burn-in. They sound much more natural. Highs are not so disturbing, and basses are not so agressive. DT990 are burned like for 30 hours, but probably was borrowed before to some users, so I cannot say, how long they are burned-in. But for sure more then 30+ hours.

I will post some of my finding, after I compare rest of the headphones. It is not even mini-review, it's just my own view of these headphones, with my preamp - NFB12.1, and only on the styles of music, I am listening. It can be different on other amp, or with other styles of music, like rap, jazz, etc...

DT880's earpads are really like 3-4mm less wide, than DT990. DT990 has nice spherical earpads, but DT880 have it more narrow. Height is same, just width of earpads differ. Yes, it can be problem for people with REALLY big ears. Luckily, I have normal ears, so no problems. I think, for most people, this will be not problem.

Edit:

After another half-hour of comparing, mainly Il Divo, and Symphonic Metallica, I don't need any more proofs: DT990 - no goosebumps. DT880 - goosebumps , goosebumps, and goosebumps. :-) DT880 are just much better in my opinion. In "No Leaf Clover", highs are just unlistenable on DT990. On DT880, it is nicely balanced, middles are finaly not supressed. Now I need to return DT990.

Edit2:

Ok, now I've put all headphones to the test, listening to them with occasional delays for about 3 hours. Wow... HD600 has really suprised me. In some tracks (most of them are soundtracks - for my suprise), they sound so awesome, that it just cannot be described by words. They have some energy, blood and punch in them. DT880 sounds good... they sound good in all types of music. They are kind of raw and stabile headphones, don't drop below average in any track. But HD600 can really suprise in some tracks (John Williams soundtracks - star wars - simply wow for HD600, and duel of the fates gave me most goosebumps I ever had till this day). However, in some others, they drop under DT880. So HD600 are a little risky, and need to be picked up for special tracks, while DT880 don't dissapoint you in any track (but also, don't suprise you :-)) From what I've yet heard, HD600 seems to be more fun to listen, while DT880 are clinical exact, which can sound quite boring in comparsion with HD600. Also, DT880 have a little bit more highs, thats true. But it's not so disturbing in any way, like on DT990. But entertainment is not the reason, why they were built. They are monitors, and that thing they do really clinicaly raw and good. The best would be to have both, for sure, one for monitoring (DT880), one for listening (HD600), and in case, that HD600 fail in some tracks (due to coloration), DT880 is saver in any track, stabile and sure, don't drop below average. I have also feeling, that HD600 are more enjoyable over long time listening... DT880 starts to be a little boring after half hour, or so. Seems, HD600 are better in this aspect. So, maybe DT880 are better for monitoring... listening for a while and focusing on detail. Then turn them off. But HD600 seems to be more fun to have them on the head for 1+ hours.

ATH-AD700 are out already... they sound at least one rank under any other headphones I have here.

AKG702 are quite strange... they trying to be also analytical and accurate, like DT880, but I like DT880 a little more in every track I've listened so far. Also, DT880 are more comfortable. Maybe, AKG K702 needs even better setup, than I have, to sound properly. But in this case, they are no attractive option for most people, as most people doesn't have better amp than NFB12.1. Anyways, I need more time, a little more burn-in, to make more relevant decisions. Except one, AD700 is out... that is for sure. :-) I would say, AD700 are hardly better, then my SR850, that costed me 25euro (33$). For sure, they are ... for monitoring, as they are more clear, and less colored. SR850 have too much bass in my option. But in overall listening experience, I would say, SR850 are very close to AD700, like 80-90%, and thanks to coloration, in some tracks, they can suprise, and are even more enjoyable to listen.

Next findings I will collect over few next days, as few hours of listening is not enough to make relevant decisions.

Edit3:

Ok, after some days, AKG K702 really starts winning here. I realized, how much do soundstage. Maybe, for me, it's most important factor. The space of sound is incredible in these headphones. I would say, DT880 have a little bit better sounding texture, also nicer basses, both headphones are actually pretty detailed, but sound in K702 is living! The soundstage here is really increadible.

From what I've heard yet, between HD600, DT880 and AKG K702, it will be really difficult decision, because all of them sound very good. To be honest, I feel, I am enjoying most AKG K702 and HD600 yet, AKG702 for really wide soundstage and detail, and HD600 for really dynamic signature. DT880 are still very good, but I feel, like something is missing here. They have little more detail than K702, nicer basses, overall sound have nicer color, but something is just missing here... it's just too flat, soundstage is missing here. Maybe NFB12.1 is not too much for them, and DT880 just reveal it. I still have the feeling, that I should get something better as amp, before making decisions about HPs, my feeling is, that there is missing some "power" in amp... maybe NFB10SE and 600 ohm version of DT880, that could be other case. I don't want to bash DT880 in any way, just I'm affraid now to take them, because I really enjoying most of music on HD600 and K702 more, final feeling of music is just better on them. (maybe I need to find proper filter on NFB12.1 for DT880, or maybe, they need more burn-in ?). DT880 are however most confortable from them, at least, for me.

Anyway, I need to wait for HD650, and what's more important, for SHR1440, and then I'll do some update, and my thoughs, about what I've heard, and percieved. Today, friend of mine was on the visit, and he find AKG most comfortable. For me, DT880 are most comfortable, but he said, they do too much presure on his ears... he meaned from inside... like there is not enough room inside for his ears, and it's not comfortable. HD600 are not so comfortable on the first touch, but after few minutes, they'll just merge with head perfectly, and do not appear to be disturbing. Yes, they are matching for long-term listening perfectly, just first few seconds on the head can appear a little bit disturbing.

I will return after some days of listening, and will do above mentioned comparsions.